The Heir

Сhарtеr 232: Sеtting thе Traр

Fеng Dаniu hаd bеen feeling quitе glоomy lаtely. Не nеvеr ехpeсted that an incident from уеars аgo wоuld rеsurfасe. Nоw, hе fасеd onlу two paths: first, bе сaрtured, exрose thе Qin family, аnd реrish tоgеthеr with thеm; secоnd, аlso bе саpturеd, but pin thе blаme on Маster Fu аnd Luo Jiu, then wait fоr the Qin family tо bаil him оut.

Onе path led tо ruin, thе оther оffеrеd а сhаncе оf resсue. Аnyonе would knоw whiсh tо chооsе.

Оf course, hе wasn’t afraid of the Qin fаmily abandоning him after сrossing thе rivеr. Aftеr all, if they left him in the lurch, he could still drag them down with him. Thus, he ultimately agreed to the schemes of Wang Decai and Third Master Qin.

There was no other way. If a man does not look out for himself, heaven and earth will condemn him. He could only let down Master Fu and Luo Jiu. Master Fu and Luo Jiu had only themselves to blame for obstructing the Qin family’s path to wealth.

And so, on this evening, Feng Daniu finally left the Tian family and leisurely made his\ way to the Li residence. Along the way, he even bought a box of osmanthus cakes. As he approached the Li residence, he saw Master Fu squatting on a bluestone slab beside the osmanthus tree at the entrance, smoking a long-stemmed pipe.

Li Jingfu had been brooding over the Qin family matter these past few days, his mood far from pleasant. But despite his foul mood, he would never allow anyone to plot against the Li family. Naturally, he began laying traps and setting the stage.

Then, he waited for events to unfold.

Sure enough, just as he finished smoking his pipe, he spotted Feng Daniu approaching from a distance. Squinting his eyes, he sized him up.

“Hey, Brother Feng, where are you headed?” Li Jingfu asked.

“Where else could I be going? It’s still the first month of the lunar year. I happened to pass through Huizhou and thought I’d drop by to see you, Master Fu. It’s been a while. How have you been lately?” Feng Daniu replied with a smile as he drew closer, even lifting the box of osmanthus cakes in his hand.

“Not too well,” Li Jingfu said, giving him a sidelong glance, his tone blunt.

“What’s wrong? What’s troubling you, Master Fu?” Feng Daniu stepped forward, pretending to be familiar.

“What troubles me is you, Brother Feng,” Li Jingfu stated directly.

“What have I done to trouble you?” Feng Daniu’s heart skipped a beat at Li Jingfu’s words, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over him. This was the instinctive alertness of a bandit who had lived by the sword for years.

“I heard you had a hand in the robbery and massacre of the merchant caravan I was with back then?” Li Jingfu fixed his gaze on Feng Daniu.

“Don’t talk nonsense! That caravan of yours was attacked and killed by the Tatars back then. What does that have to do with me?” Feng Daniu feigned anger, but sweat beaded on his forehead. Indeed, his earlier foreboding had come true. Of course, he would never admit to such a thing.

Naturally, Feng Daniu wasn’t too surprised by Li Jingfu’s suspicion. After all, the Suzhou Inspection Office was already investigating the matter. Even he was now wanted by the authorities, so it made sense for Li Jingfu to question him.

“Oh…” Li Jingfu drew out the syllable, neither confirming nor denying. Then, he tapped his pipe, stood up, and gestured for Feng Daniu to enter.

Feng Daniu breathed a sigh of relief. Once he stepped through the Li family’s gate, his mission would be accomplished. All that remained was to wait for the men arranged by the Qin family and Wang Decai from the prefectural office to come and arrest him.However, Feng Daniu never expected that the moment he stepped through the door, two blades flashed from either side, pressing directly against his neck. Beads of sweat covered his forehead. "Li Jingfu, what is the meaning of this?" he demanded loudly.

"What do I mean? I should be asking you the same! You're wanted by the authorities, yet instead of fleeing, you come to my doorstep carrying osmanthus cakes. Are you treating your life as worthless, Master Feng? But when did we ever have such a close relationship? I must say, I'm rather flattered. And I'm also curious—Master Feng has always been a suspicious man. Aren't you afraid I might report you to the authorities? This behavior doesn't seem like your usual style," Li Jingfu said, gesturing dismissively.

"Haha, Master Fu, you jest. After all, we both made a living in the north—there must be some lingering camaraderie, right? I trust you, Master Fu. And this kind of joke is no laughing matter," Feng Daniu said, lightly tapping the blades still resting against his neck.

"This is no joke. I'm doing this for my own life," Li Jingfu replied before dropping a bombshell: "What did the Qin family and that Wang fellow offer you to make you risk your life just to drag me down?"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand," Feng Daniu said, his face paling.

"Don't understand, or pretending not to?" At that moment, Li Zhenniang entered through the doorway and addressed Feng Daniu. She knew that matters concerning the Qin family were best handled by her, as her father might find it difficult to speak openly. "The merchant caravan that was ambushed years ago—it was you who tipped off the Tatars for the Qin family, wasn't it? The Suzhou Judicial Commissioner's office had been watching you since last year. At first, you didn't know, but one day, you received a letter and realized the truth. Soon after, you showed up at the Tian family in Huizhou, and not long after, Third Master Qin secretly arrived from the north. The three of you laid out an elaborate trap, all to ruin our Li family and the Luo Family, am I right?" Zhen Niang calmly laid out the scheme orchestrated by Wang Decai and Third Master Qin.

Hearing Li Zhenniang's words, Feng Daniu was shocked. He realized that every move he had made had long been under the Li family's watchful eyes. However, his goal had already been achieved. Since the truth was out, he shrugged indifferently. "I had no choice. To save my own life, I had to sacrifice you. Don't blame me—blame Wang Decai and the Qin family."

"How can you be sure this will save your life?" Luo Wenqian, leaning against the doorframe, interjected. He had returned to Huizhou two nights prior, and now everything was in place, awaiting the final move.

"You'll find out soon enough whether it saves my life or not," Feng Daniu replied, silently counting the time in his mind. It had been nearly half an hour since he entered the Li residence. The men arranged by the Qin family and Wang Decai should be arriving soon.

"Well, it's good to have confidence. Speaking of which, there's someone I'd like to mention. I wonder if you still remember them?" Luo Wenqian added, rubbing his nose thoughtfully.

"Who?" Feng Daniu asked, suspicion etched on his face. A sense of foreboding crept over him—perhaps things wouldn't unfold as Wang Decai and Third Master Qin had planned.

"Zhao Zhen. Do you remember him?" Luo Wenqian said."Why would you mention him?" Feng Daniu practically leaped up in shock, his mind in turmoil. Zhao Zhen was the key figure in the entire incident.

"Because I've just returned from the north. Lord Xuan and Lord Yan have already been captured. However, Marshal Qi ordered them to atone for their crimes by performing meritorious deeds, so this news was kept secret. Now, let me tell you the latest: Bahanaji has surrendered. Zhao Zhen has also been arrested. In fact, Zhao Zhen has already confessed everything about the incident back then. So, do you really think the Qin family can still protect you? They can hardly protect themselves!" Luo Wenqian said, watching Feng Daniu's ashen face.

"What do you want me to do then?" Hearing Luo Jiu say all this, Feng Daniu knew the Qin family was finished. Wang Decai and the Qin family had been setting up a scheme, but they had walked right into the trap that the Li family and Luo Jiu had prepared in advance. Wasn't that just asking for death?

"Just tell the truth," Zhen Niang said from the side.

In truth, with Zhao Zhen's and Bahanaji's testimonies, whether Feng Daniu turned traitor or not didn't matter. However, Wang Decai and the Qin family had used Feng Daniu to set a trap for the Li family and Luo Wenqian. If Feng Daniu turned on them now, it would surely be even more satisfying.

Feng Daniu said nothing, merely hanging his head low.

The Li family and Luo Jiu paid him no further attention. Someone like Feng Daniu, for the sake of his own life, would naturally understand what was most beneficial for him.

Just then, the sky darkened. A bolt of lightning streaked across the gloomy sky, followed by a thunderclap that seemed to tear through the heart. After a few flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder, raindrops as large as beans began pelting down from the sky. In no time, the entire bluestone-paved ground was splashing with white spray.

At that moment, a team of yamen runners led by the prefectural constable surrounded the Li family's Eighth Branch.

The main gate, side gate, and back gate of the Li family's Eighth Branch were all guarded.

"Keep a tight watch. Don't let the imperial fugitive escape," Constable Mo of the prefectural yamen shouted to the runners before stepping forward to pound on the gate of the Li family's Eighth Branch.

"Constable Mo, what is the meaning of this?" Li Liujin answered the door.

"To arrest an imperial fugitive," Constable Mo said to Li Liujin.

"Oh, Constable Mo, you must be joking. Our Li family abides by the law. How could there be an imperial fugitive here?" Li Liujin said indignantly.

"Whether there is or not isn't for you to decide. We'll know after we search," Constable Mo said, leading his men as they charged into the Li residence.

At that moment, Li Jingfu, Li Zhenniang, and Feng Daniu were sitting in the main hall. As soon as Constable Mo and his men rushed into the Li residence, they spotted Feng Daniu and were delighted—they had caught him red-handed.

Immediately, they threw iron shackles over Feng Daniu's head. At the same time, Constable Mo said to Li Jingfu, "Master Li, someone has accused you of colluding with bandits and Tatars, orchestrating the tragic massacre of the merchant caravan back then. Now, you must come with us to the yamen for questioning."

The Li family was, after all, a prominent clan in Huizhou, so Constable Mo spoke with some courtesy.

"This is a baseless accusation. Who accused me?" Li Jingfu feigned indignation as he retorted.

"You'll find out when you get to the yamen," Constable Mo said without further explanation. He ordered the runners to escort Li Jingfu and shackle Feng Daniu before leading them out of the Li residence.

"Zhen Niang, what is going on?" Zhao Shi asked, her face pale with shock, while Wu Shi on the side was so anxious she could barely keep still."Grandmother, Mother, don't worry." Zhen Niang quickly calmed her grandmother and mother, then quietly explained the whole story from beginning to end. Meanwhile, Li Dalang had also gone to the yamen, as some necessary arrangements had to be made.

Such a major incident naturally alarmed the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Branches of the Li family. Even Old Madam Li came over, leaning on her cane.

Zhen Niang then invited Old Madam Li into the house and carefully explained the situation again, mainly to prevent the elderly woman from worrying unnecessarily.

"Good! If you don't kill the snake, it will bite you back. This time, we must make sure Wang Decai has no chance to recover," Old Madam Li said through gritted teeth.

"Mhm," Zhen Niang nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, outside, the news that Li Jingfu was accused of colluding with the Tatars and bandits had stirred up a commotion like a pot of boiling porridge.

"Li Jingfu colluding with Tatars and bandits? How is that possible?" Most people shook their heads in disbelief.

"Why not? Many people have gone north to dig for gold, but how many have actually struck it rich? How is it that Li Jingfu alone made a fortune? I think it's highly likely he colluded with Tatars and bandits," said some who were jealous of the Eighth Branch's wealth, gloating over the situation.

"It's hard to say. Let's not jump to conclusions. We'll hear the trial tomorrow," someone nearby advised.

"Right, right. We'll hear the trial tomorrow," others around them chimed in agreement.